It is with deep sadness that we announce that Joyce Barkhouse passed away from heart disease on February 2, 2012 in Bridgewater, Lunenburg County (Nova Scotia). After graduating from Kings County Academy, Barkhouse attended the Provincial Normal College in Truro and became and elementary school teacher. She went on to teach in both the Maritimes and Montreal. As a teacher, she noticed the lack of Canadian reading material for children and so began her career in writing for children.

Barkhouse was one of Nova Scotia’s finest writers for children and her works include Anna’s Pet and Pit Pony. In 2007, she was named to the Order of Nova Scotia, and in 2009, to the Order of Canada.

Donations may be made to the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia for their Writers in the Schools program, their Atlantic Writing Competition, or their fund to help support indigent writers.